Earth · earthquakes
A year of strong earthquakes
Each spike is a magnitude 5.5+ earthquake of the last twelve months (USGS ComCat); its height follows the magnitude, its colour the depth. Rings mark the strongest. Earthquakes outline the plate boundaries.
- < 70 km (shallow)
- 70–300 km (intermediate)
- > 300 km (deep)
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.6
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,622
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Positions and magnitudes from the USGS catalogue; heights exaggerated. Base map: local NASA Blue Marble.
Catalogued earthquakes M ≥ 4.5
312,191
1900 → 2026-10-27
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Current · provisional
Earthquakes M ≥ 7
1,622
including 100 M ≥ 8
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Current · provisional
Latest catalogued earthquake
M 4.6
2026-10-27 11:01 UTC · 5 km ENE of Tierra y Libertad, Mexico
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Strongest in the catalogue
M 9.5
1960-05-22 · 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake)
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 in the last 30 days of the catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Earthquakes M ≥ 7 and M ≥ 6 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Current · provisional
Show the data as a table
Earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 per year
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
Current · provisional
Show the data as a table
Ten strongest earthquakes in the USGS catalogue (since 1900)
| # | M | Date | Place | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.5 mw | 1960-05-22 | 1960 Great Chilean Earthquake (Valdivia Earthquake) | 25 km |
| 2 | 9.2 mw | 1964-03-28 | The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska Earthquake | 25 km |
| 3 | 9.1 mw | 2004-12-25 | 2004 Sumatra - Andaman Islands Earthquake | 30 km |
| 4 | 9.1 mww | 2011-03-11 | 2011 Great Tohoku Earthquake, Japan | 29 km |
| 5 | 9.0 mw | 1952-11-04 | 89 km ESE of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia | 22 km |
| 6 | 8.8 mw | 1906-01-31 | 1906 Ecuador-Colombia Earthquake | 20 km |
| 7 | 8.8 mww | 2010-02-27 | 2010 Maule, Chile Earthquake | 23 km |
| 8 | 8.8 mww | 2025-07-29 | 2025 Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia Earthquake | 35 km |
| 9 | 8.7 mw | 1965-02-04 | 1965 Western Aleutian Islands (Hawadax/Rat Islands) Earthquake | 30 km |
| 10 | 8.6 mw | 1946-04-01 | The 1946 Unimak Island, Alaska Earthquake | 15 km |
Deadliest earthquakes (NCEI significant earthquake database)
NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · 10/23/26
| # | Year | Place | M | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1556 | CHINA: SHAANXI PROVINCE | 8.0 | 830,000 |
| 2 | 2010 | HAITI: PORT-AU-PRINCE tsunami | 7.0 | 316,000 |
| 3 | 115 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH) tsunami | 7.5 | 260,000 |
| 4 | 525 | TURKEY: ANTAKYA (ANTIOCH), SAMANDAG | 7.0 | 250,000 |
| 5 | 1976 | CHINA: NE: TANGSHAN | 7.5 | 242,769 |
| 6 | 1920 | CHINA: GANSU PROVINCE, SHANXI PROVINCE tsunami | 8.3 | 235,502 |
| 7 | 1139 | AZERBAIJAN: GYZNDZHA | — | 230,000 |
| 8 | 2004 | INDONESIA: SUMATRA: ACEH: OFF WEST COAST tsunami | 9.1 | 227,899 |
| 9 | 856 | IRAN: DAMGHAN, QUMIS | 7.9 | 200,000 |
| 10 | 893 | ARMENIA: DVIN; IRAN: ARDABIL | — | 150,000 |
Filterable USGS catalogue
USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service) · U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · 10/27/26
| Date (UTC) | M | Place | Depth | Lat., lon. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006-09-16 07:45 | 6.3 mwb | 57 km ENE of Masohi, Indonesia | 17 km | -3.08, 129.44 |
| 2006-09-12 11:30 | 6.0 mwb | 70 km WSW of Vinchina, Argentina | 114 km | -28.94, -68.90 |
| 2006-09-09 02:13 | 6.3 mwb | 143 km N of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia | 572 km | -7.22, 120.11 |
| 2006-09-01 08:18 | 6.8 mwb | 49 km S of Panguna, Papua New Guinea | 38 km | -6.76, 155.51 |
| 2006-08-24 22:44 | 6.6 mwb | 74 km WSW of San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina | 184 km | -24.40, -67.03 |
| 2006-08-24 19:50 | 6.5 mwb | 81 km ESE of Ozernovskiy, Russia | 43 km | 51.15, 157.52 |
| 2006-08-20 01:41 | 7.0 mwb | Scotia Sea | 13 km | -61.03, -34.37 |
| 2006-08-20 01:01 | 6.0 mwc | 97 km SSE of Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia | 26 km | 49.82, 156.42 |
| 2006-08-15 21:53 | 6.1 mwb | 107 km W of Haveluloto, Tonga | 154 km | -21.19, -176.25 |
| 2006-08-11 18:54 | 6.2 mwc | 9 km SSW of Sinabang, Indonesia | 22 km | 2.40, 96.35 |
| 2006-08-11 12:30 | 6.1 mwb | 10 km NW of Zirándaro de los Chávez, Mexico | 56 km | 18.54, -101.05 |
| 2006-08-07 20:18 | 6.8 mwb | 51 km NE of Norsup, Vanuatu | 150 km | -15.80, 167.79 |
| 2006-07-27 09:16 | 6.3 mwc | 96 km SW of Singkil, Indonesia | 20 km | 1.71, 97.15 |
| 2006-07-23 06:22 | 6.0 mwc | 87 km NE of Luwuk, Indonesia | 28 km | -0.34, 123.29 |
| 2006-07-19 09:48 | 6.4 mwc | 61 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 28 km | -5.47, 150.68 |
| 2006-07-19 08:57 | 6.1 mwb | 51 km WSW of Labuan, Indonesia | 45 km | -6.54, 105.39 |
| 2006-07-17 13:45 | 6.1 mwb | 220 km SSW of Sidareja, Indonesia | 21 km | -9.42, 108.32 |
| 2006-07-17 07:13 | 6.0 mwc | 194 km SSW of Kawalu, Indonesia | 10 km | -9.09, 107.76 |
| 2006-07-17 06:19 | 7.7 mwc | 226 km SSW of Singaparna, Indonesia | 20 km | -9.28, 107.42 |
| 2006-07-16 09:42 | 6.2 mwb | 175 km W of Vallenar, Chile | 10 km | -28.72, -72.54 |
| 2006-07-08 18:40 | 6.6 mwb | 199 km WSW of Adak, Alaska | 22 km | 51.21, -179.31 |
| 2006-07-07 05:26 | 6.0 mwb | 81 km NNE of Hihifo, Tonga | 35 km | -15.24, -173.61 |
| 2006-06-27 16:07 | 6.3 mwc | 287 km WNW of Sabang, Indonesia | 29 km | 6.50, 92.79 |
| 2006-06-27 00:59 | 6.3 mwc | Fiji region | 570 km | -19.86, -178.29 |
| 2006-06-27 00:39 | 6.2 mwb | 212 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska | 17 km | 52.23, 176.16 |
| 2006-06-24 19:15 | 6.3 mwb | 76 km NE of Luwuk, Indonesia | 26 km | -0.39, 123.20 |
| 2006-06-22 08:53 | 6.0 mwb | 116 km E of Kuril’sk, Russia | 95 km | 45.42, 149.34 |
| 2006-06-21 10:34 | 6.0 mwc | Nicobar Islands, India region | 16 km | 6.94, 92.45 |
| 2006-06-18 16:28 | 6.0 mwc | northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 9 km | 33.03, -39.70 |
| 2006-06-14 02:46 | 6.0 mwc | 286 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska | 29 km | 51.95, 177.13 |
| 2006-06-14 02:18 | 6.5 mwc | 292 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska | 14 km | 51.75, 177.08 |
| 2006-06-11 18:01 | 6.3 mwb | 15 km S of Tsukawaki, Japan | 140 km | 33.13, 131.14 |
| 2006-06-09 03:58 | 6.1 mwb | 213 km ENE of Levuka, Fiji | 564 km | -17.53, -178.75 |
| 2006-06-05 04:27 | 6.0 mwc | central Mid-Atlantic Ridge | 10 km | 1.18, -28.06 |
| 2006-06-02 05:31 | 6.0 mwb | Fiji region | 592 km | -20.84, -178.70 |
| 2006-05-28 01:12 | 6.5 mwc | 111 km E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea | 34 km | -5.72, 151.13 |
| 2006-05-26 20:53 | 6.3 mwb | 10 km E of Pundong, Indonesia | 13 km | -7.96, 110.45 |
| 2006-05-22 18:53 | 6.1 mwb | 189 km SW of Ambon, Indonesia | 3 km | -4.72, 126.81 |
| 2006-05-22 11:08 | 6.2 mwb | 48 km SSW of Mil’kovo, Russia | 197 km | 54.27, 158.45 |
| 2006-05-22 09:12 | 6.6 mwc | 42 km NNW of Tilichiki, Russia | 19 km | 60.77, 165.74 |
| 2006-05-21 00:07 | 6.0 mwc | off the coast of Ecuador | 10 km | 1.55, -85.31 |
| 2006-05-19 12:44 | 6.3 mwc | 161 km S of Tondano, Indonesia | 35 km | -0.14, 124.71 |
| 2006-05-17 01:06 | 6.0 mwb | 99 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | 11 km | -20.63, -173.95 |
| 2006-05-16 13:28 | 6.8 mwb | 256 km SSW of Singkil, Indonesia | 12 km | 0.09, 97.05 |
| 2006-05-16 08:39 | 7.4 mwb | Kermadec Islands region | 152 km | -31.81, -179.31 |
| 2006-05-10 00:42 | 6.4 mwc | 54 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska | 18 km | 52.52, -169.26 |
| 2006-05-07 12:17 | 6.1 mwb | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -36.80, 78.54 |
| 2006-05-06 16:26 | 6.0 mwb | Mid-Indian Ridge | 10 km | -38.62, 78.57 |
| 2006-05-04 09:25 | 6.0 mwb | 90 km SSE of Pangai, Tonga | 11 km | -20.58, -174.04 |
| 2006-05-03 13:26 | 8.0 mwc | 2006 Tonga Earthquake | 55 km | -20.19, -174.12 |
Method and sources
The USGS ComCat (ANSS) catalogue is read through the FDSN web service, one request per calendar year since 1900 for magnitudes ≥ 4.5; the last two years are re-read on each update because solutions are revised. Magnitudes are those published (mb, Ms, Mw, ml…) and are not converted; depth is the hypocentre depth in km.
Yearly counts are computed on the server from imported events of type “earthquake” (explosions and other types are kept but excluded from counts). Historical earthquakes and their tolls come from the NCEI/WDS significant earthquake database, dated to the year when the day is unknown.
Reading these data
The global catalogue is homogeneous neither in time nor in magnitude: completeness at M 4.5 is only reached after 1973 and still improves afterwards. Magnitudes of different types are not comparable; the great historical earthquakes (e.g. Valdivia 1960, M 9.5) are re-evaluations. No link with solar activity or tides is established; see the Correspondences pages.
SOURCES OF THIS PAGE
- USGS ComCat earthquakes M ≥ 4.5 (FDSN event service)
-
U.S. Geological Survey, Earthquake Hazards Program (2017). Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) Comprehensive Catalog of Earthquake Events and Products. Accessed through the FDSN event web service.
· doi:10.5066/F7MS3QZH · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite USGS ANSS ComCat · retrieved on Oct 27, 2026 · SHA-256 2a082d988a24… - NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database
-
National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
· doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K · source page ↗
Licence : U.S. Government work, public domain; cite NCEI/WDS · retrieved on Oct 23, 2026 · SHA-256 f99e14bcd8f1…